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Angry Birds maker Rovio eyes potential IPO

Rovio Entertainment, the Finnish mobile game and animation studio behind Angry Birds, has said it could be lining up a potential IPO following reports that China’s Tencent may be looking to acquire the company.

Though the mobile game developer refused to delve into the possibility of a Tencent acquisition, it confirmed that it is weighing up its options in regards to going public at some point.

“We and our shareholders regularly assess different alternatives to further develop Rovio,” the company told Reuters in an emailed statement when asked about The Information report. “A stock exchange listing at some point in the future could be possible in order to support the continued strong growth of Rovio and its strategic targets. However, Rovio and its owners have not made any decisions regarding a possible IPO.”

Last month, Rovio announced that an Angry Birds Movie sequel was in the works and due to arrive in 2019 to celebrate the game’s 10th anniversary. The first Angry Birds Movie grossed around $350m worldwide last year – while the game itself has been downloaded more than 3.7bn times. Despite these successes, the company has faced problems over the last few years and been forced into several job cuts.